Ballottement
The clinician inserts two fingers into the vagina and gives a sharp upward tap against the lower segment of the uterus. If the fetus is present and not yet engaged in the pelvis, it will float upward and then fall back, tapping against the clinician’s fingers.
Suspected knee trauma, arthritis flare-up, or unexplained swelling. Technique:
In pregnancy, ballottement is a "probable sign" used to detect the fetus as it floats in amniotic fluid. ballottement
Performed by applying a sharp tap to the abdominal wall to feel the fetus move away and return. 3. Abdominal Ballottement
This test is highly specific for large effusions but may miss smaller amounts of fluid, which are better detected using the Bulge Sign . 2. Obstetric Ballottement The clinician inserts two fingers into the vagina
The patient lies flat (supine) with the leg fully extended and relaxed.
(from the French ballotter , meaning "to toss about") is a medical physical examination technique used to detect floating objects within a fluid-filled cavity. It is most commonly applied in orthopedics to check for knee swelling, in obstetrics to assess pregnancy, and in general medicine to evaluate abdominal organs. 1. Patellar Ballottement (Knee Effusion Test) Technique: In pregnancy, ballottement is a "probable sign"
The patella feels like it is "floating." You will feel it move through fluid, click against the femur, and then rebound or "ballotte" back toward your finger.